Packers bolster depth with former Jaguars fullback Tommy Bohanon

GREEN BAY – With the only two fullbacks on his roster injured, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur needed some help.

General manager Brian Gutekunst got him some Monday.

The Packers signed unrestricted free agent Tommy Bohanon, a former Jacksonville Jaguars fullback who played under new Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett the last two seasons. The 6-1, 247-pound Bohanon is a true blocking fullback and much bigger than 6-foot, 239-pound Danny Vitale and 6-1, 231-pound Malcolm Johnson.

The addition of Bohanon became necessary when Johnson suffered a groin injury late last week and Vitale dropped out of practice Sunday with a calf injury.

LaFleur has had to adjust practices because there were no other fullbacks on the roster and has chosen not to use his tight ends as lead blockers. The fullback has a greater presence in LaFleur’s offense than previous coach Mike McCarthy’s, and so Gutekunst had to find someone who could help right away.

Bohanon started his career with the New York Jets and spent two seasons there. He was out of football in 2016 after the Jets cut him and spent the year working in his family’s concrete-laying business. The Jaguars called him in ’17 and he wound up being part of a rushing offense that led the AFC and helped Jacksonville make it to the AFC Championship game.

He scored a key touchdown in the divisional playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on a pass play Hackett designed for him.

The Jaguars chose not to re-sign him this offseason.

In five seasons in the NFL, Bohanon has started 30 of 68 games played, carried 26 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown.